I started out young with a 20 ga.. It was an over and under with a 22 barrel on top and a 20 ga. on the bottom. My dad always helped me hold it and one day he thought I could do it by myself, so he let me. Now here is where the problem was, the gun had a full length stock and an external hammer and because of the long stock I had it under my armpit instead of on my shoulder. When I shot it the hammer stuck in my cheek right under my eye. Well a few months and 7 stitches later I had a 410 with a stock that would fit me and used that until I was 10 and then went straight to a 12 ga. So do be careful with the 20 if he tries it(and I know you will be).

They tried to charge my dad with child abuse but never did and that was back in the early 80's. The way things are today, he probably would have been charged.

I was a year or two younger than your boy is now though.